Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

NEWS ROUNDUP

Whose Sheep? Mountain sheep vanished from Oregon in the 1940s, disappearing even earlier on the Idaho side of the canyon. Now they're back, at least to some degree. But whether these iconic animals will ever return to their historical levels is not yet clear. For at least 20 years, biologists have recommended keeping domestic and wild sheep apart on the range. Years of research have shown that when bighorns interact with their tame cousins, massive bighorn sheep die-offs soon follow. Nearly 20,000 domestic sheep still graze on parts of the Payette National Forest in Idaho, which contains ideal range—for both domestic and wild sheep—and is contiguous with Hells Canyon. New telemetry data have confirmed what biologists long suspected: Wild sheep from Hells Canyon are roaming onto domestic grazing allotments on the Payette. This summer, the Forest Service for the first time barred domestic sheep from those parts of the forest that connect with bighorn sheep habitat. That decision was upheld by a federal judge. But the recovery of the bighorns may depend, ultimately, on the outcome of a continuing legal dispute between supporters of wild sheep reintroduction and longtime domesticated sheep ranchers in Idaho. The battle for the Payette promises to clarify where bighorns will be protected. At the same time, it may determine the future of the sheep-ranching industry, which has depended on access to public grazing leases across the West for more than a century. Strange bedfellows A scheme to help preserve biological diversity that pleases both environmental groups and land-use groups would be quite an accomplishment. Congress has a chance to approve such a plan. The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007 has broad support, including the Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife on one side and the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Society of American Foresters and a coalition that includes the National Association of Home Builders on the other. Some of these groups have faced off in court. This approach gives them a chance to work together. Introduced in both the House (HR 1422) and Senate (S 700), this proposal creates tax incentives for private landowners, primarily farmers and ranchers, who proactively preserve or enhance habitat for threatened or endangered species. Agreements that earn tax credits can include restrictions on how land is used. The goal remains species preservation, but this is a cooperative model instead of an adversarial one. It makes an endangered species a benefit to the landowner instead of a liability. The bill has moved through Senate committees in two forms. One is a stand-alone version, which we strongly support....Pinyon-juniper chaining project will benefit wildlife, watershed Deer, elk and a portion of the watershed draining into the Duchesne River will benefit from the recent chaining of pinyon-juniper trees on the foothills of Tabby Mountain in north-central Utah. Roughly 1,000 acres of pinyon-juniper were knocked down using a heavy chain pulled by bulldozers. The project included 600 acres on the Blacktail Ridge and another 400 in Sandwash. The project is a cooperative effort among the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and its partners: the Bill Barrett Corp., the U.S. Forest Service and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The Bill Barrett Corp. pledged $20,800 to the project as mitigation for wildlife disturbances. The Forest Service and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation donated $60,000 and $7,500 respectively. Another $100,000 came through the DWR as part of Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative. "The area is losing its wildlife habitat and watershed values because of the pinyon-juniper," said Alison Whittaker, DWR habitat biologist.... Preserving Our Equine Heritage on Public Lands Act Introduced in Senate Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Preserving our Equine Heritage on Public Lands Act (S. 2238) on November 1st. This bill is similar to the so-called “Right-to-Ride” bill that was introduced in the last Congress by Senator Crapo. “Senator Crapo has been a champion of preserving riders’ access to public lands,” said American Horse Council (AHC) President Jay Hickey. “He has retooled the bill he introduced in the last Congress and we appreciate his steadfastness in introducing the legislation again. Equestrians are going to have to let Congress know that they are concerned about access to trails and public lands and that they support this bill if we hope to get it passed.” The bill directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to manage the federal lands under their jurisdiction “in a manner that preserves and facilitates the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals” on lands on which “there is a historical tradition” of use. The bill provides that such lands “shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle stock animals” where there is such a tradition. The bill applies to the management of the National Park System, BLM lands, National Wildlife Refuge System land, and National Forest System land. The bill does not limit the federal agencies’ ultimate authority to restrict such use, provided the agencies perform the review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The bill would also impose additional specific and designated procedures to be followed by agencies before any land closures. These procedures include advance notice of any proposed reduction in use to allow public comment, convening a public meeting near the area involved, and collaboration with various users during the process....Feds investigate logging in forest Agriculture Department investigators are in the Giant Sequoia National Monument this week probing allegations of illegal logging, lawmakers revealed Tuesday. The investigators from the department's Office of Inspector General are examining claims that the Forest Service allowed about 200 protected trees to be chopped down in 2004 and 2005. Environmentalists contend the logging included trees removed near the popular Trail of 100 Giants. "They're looking to move pretty quickly," said Jeff Lieberson, spokesman for Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. "We wanted them to take a look and see what the real deal is." The investigation could reopen old wounds around the Giant Sequoia National Monument, established by President Bill Clinton in 2000 despite some local opposition. Critics contended the 327,769-acre monument, carved into the existing Sequoia National Forest, would unduly cramp important commercial and recreational activities. Monument supporters fear loggers have continued to hold too much power even in areas meant to be preserved.... Ship's collision with bridge leaves 58,000 gallons of oil in San Francisco Bay After the largest oil spill in San Francisco Bay in more than a decade Wednesday, agencies today plan to continue the clean-up of 58,000 gallons of oil leaked inside the Bay as they assess damage to wildlife and beaches. The spill occurred on a foggy morning when a cargo ship collided with the Bay Bridge. Throughout the day, U.S. Coast Guard crews worked to surround the spill with floating boom, removing at least 8,000 gallons with skimmer ships and absorbent pads, said spokesman U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Anderson. "The Coast Guard is committed to protecting the environment. We are deploying all available resources to clean it up," he said. The effect on wildlife was unknown by late Wednesday night. At first, Coast Guard officials said the spill had only resulted in 140 gallons of bunker fuel entering the water. But by 10 p.m., the agency upgraded the amount to 58,000 gallons. The spill occurred when a container ship, the Cosco Busan, bound from Oakland to South Korea, hit a barrier on a tower of the bridge....Snowy plover plan curbs beach activity The Western snowy plover, a tiny beach bird that weighs less than two ounces, could get stiff shoreline boundaries under a state plan introduced Monday. Dogs and kite-flying will be off-limits on 32 miles of beaches under the plan, introduced by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Off-road driving is already banned at the proposed sites. The plan, submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, covers 32 miles of the state’s 230 miles of sandy beaches. Plovers, whose numbers in Oregon were counted at 125 this year, have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1993. Oregon submitted the plan to the Fish and Wildlife Service to receive a permit that acknowledges recreation will at times disturb or harm plovers....Environmentalists Are Muscling In on Atlanta's Water Supply With the Southeast suffering a prolonged drought, the city of Atlanta, Georgia, has only about a three month supply of readily accessible water. Nevertheless, in compliance with the Endangered Species Act, the Army Corps of Engineers continues to drain more than a billion gallons a day from Lake Lanier, Atlanta's main water source, to release it downstream for an endangered species of mussel. "The Endangered Species Act is a danger to the human species," said Dr. Keith Lockitch, a resident fellow of the Ayn Rand Institute. "People find it hard to believe that environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act could really require the sacrifice of human beings to nature. But that is exactly what they have to mean in practice; they mean that in order to sustain some obscure mussel species, the people in Atlanta must go without water. Environmentalists claim that blaming the mussels is unfair. They say it is just a way of diverting attention from the real causes of the water crisis, which, in their view, are a lack of strict water conservation mandates and the 'unbridled development' of metro Atlanta over the last few years." But, says Lockitch, "this amounts to the bizarre claim that the problem is not a failure to build reservoirs and expand water capacity, but a 'failure' to obstruct economic progress and impose draconian water restrictions on Atlanta. In other words, the environmentalists' view is that Atlantans should sacrifice even more to nature....Obama outlines rural Nevada plan Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he does not support mining reform legislation that recently passed the House of Representatives and would work to find a compromise that is more friendly to the mining industry. "The legislation that has been proposed places a significant burden on the mining industry and could have a significant impact on jobs (in rural Nevada) given the difficulties the industry is already facing in maintaining its operations," Obama said during a conference call with Nevada reporters discussing his platform for rural Nevada. Of the detailed, 11-page package of proposals, Obama stressed shoring up the mining industry, improving rural residents' access to health care and fighting "the scourge of methamphetamine." The plan also includes supporting the state's right to regulate gaming, keeping Lake Tahoe blue, fighting wildfires, protecting ranchers and opposing the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain...Panelists nix split zone for cattle After hours of rancorous debate punctuated by yelling and boos from the audience, the Montana Board of Livestock on Tuesday stepped away from a plan to split Montana into two zones to manage a dreaded cattle disease. On a 6-1 vote, the seven-member panel that governs the Montana Department of Livestock decided to pursue other ways of preventing the spread of brucellosis from infected bison and elk in Yellowstone National Park into Montana's neighboring cattle. The decision does not mean the state will never pursue a so-called "split state" to deal with brucellosis, said board Chairman William Hedstrom. Something major, like a second case of the disease or an outcry from ranchers, would have to come up before the board would consider the issue again, he said in an interview after the meeting. "This has divided the industry, and the board is divided," Hedstrom said of the issue and the board's carefully worded resolution on the matter. It seemed to remove split-state status from consideration while not fully closing the door on the idea....Country Music Hall of Fame Member Hank Thompson Dies Country Music Hall of Fame member Hank Thompson died late Tuesday (Nov. 7) at his home near Fort Worth, Texas, following a battle with lung cancer. The 82-year-old singer, songwriter and bandleader last week canceled all of his tour dates after being hospitalized. He played his last concert on Oct. 8 in his native Waco, Texas, when Hank Thompson Day was declared by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy. According to Thompson's official Web site, a celebration of his life will take place Nov. 14 at Billy Bob's Texas, the famed nightspot in Fort Worth. Few performers in any era of the music have known and appreciated its history as well, and Thompson, elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989, was a big part of that history. His warm and rich baritone graced hits from the 1940s to the 1970s, as his award-winning Brazos Valley Boys band gave those honky-tonk hits a distinctive flavor of Western swing, much in the pattern followed later by fellow Texan George Strait. Henry William Thompson was born on Sept. 3, 1925. His parents were Jule Thomas Thompson and Zexia Ida Wells Thompson, and his paternal grandparents were German Czechs named "Kocek" who Anglicized the name to "Thompson." Though the family lived on a farm outside of town, Jule Thompson was a mechanic, and his son always had at least an amateur's interest in such handy things as radio electronics. He earned part-time money doing radio shop work in Waco during his high school days, then studied radio communications and electronics while serving in the Navy and at college extension courses (from Princeton University and the University of Texas) which helped him earn credits toward his postwar discharge. Neither of his parents even dabbled at music, and Thompson told writer Rich Kienzle that growing up, country was the only music he listened to and the only music that anybody he knew listened to....Cow Falls Off Cliff, Crashes Onto Van on Highway Charles and Linda Everson were driving back to their hotel when their minivan was struck by a falling object — a 600-pound cow. The Eversons were unhurt but the cow, which had fallen off a cliff, had to be euthanized. The year-old cow fell about 200 feet from the cliff and landed on the hood of the couple's minivan, causing heavy damage. A Chelan County fire chief, Arnold Baker, said the couple missed being killed by a matter of inches in the accident Sunday on a highway near Manson. The Eversons, visiting the area from their home in Westland, Mich., to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, were checked at Lake Chelan Community Hospital as a precaution. Everson, 49, said he didn't see the cow falling and didn't know what happened until afterward. He said he kept repeating: "I don't believe this. I don't believe this."